[Zeegler]

My car is a 2006 9-5. I've had the car about 5 years, and the brakes have always been a bit spongy, with too much pedal travel. Quite the opposite of "grabby".

I just replaced discs and pads at all corners, but still need to bleed the system. Actually, I'm going to completely purge and replace the old fluid. I'm really hoping this will make a huge difference.

So my question is to all 9-5 owners. If everything is up to snuff, how are the brakes supposed to feel?

I should also mention that my car has the bigger front discs.

 

[Riccird1]

I had a 2002 9-5 with 314mm brakes from the 9-3, and those were grippy and responsive, but I've never been impressed with the brakes on my 1999 and the 2001 and I had before this. Those were both 286mm (or whatever the basic ones are). The ones on my current 1999 there is either something wrong with, or they're just plain bad. Kinda soft feel, but they do stop the car, but not hard enough for ABS to kick in.

 

[EdT]

After a proper bleed, they should be nice and firm.


When you replaced the pads and rotors, did you lubricate the caliper pins, and did you clean up the caliper bracket ears on which the pads slide?


In my opinion, the exact composition of brake pads or make of brake rotor should not change how firm the pedal feels. How well it stops at a given pedal pressure can vary a lot, though.

 

[Zeegler]

After a proper bleed, they should be nice and firm.


When you replaced the pads and rotors, did you lubricate the caliper pins, and did you clean up the caliper bracket ears on which the pads slide?


In my opinion, the exact composition of brake pads or make of brake rotor should not change how firm the pedal feels. How well it stops at a given pedal pressure can vary a lot, though.

Yes, lubricated the pins. Wire brushed the hell out of the entire calipers. Also checked that the pistons are operating nice and smoothly. When I get the time I'm going to remove the calipers and sandblast them and then paint them.

 

[Zeegler]

Oh yeah I just remembered. I also need new disc retention bolts for the front. Both of them were seized and had to be drilled and removed with screw extractors. Every place I've found to buy them on line wants $3 per bolt plus $25 shipping!

Is there any source for these in Southern Ontario?

 

[EdT]

Oh yeah I just remembered. I also need new disc retention bolts for the front. Both of them were seized and had to be drilled and removed with screw extractors. Every place I've found to buy them on line wants $3 per bolt plus $25 shipping!

Is there any source for these in Southern Ontario?

According to EPC, the front disc screw is the same for the 9-5 and NG9-3. So I would go to a junkyard such as Mike's in Stoney Creek and grab a few. Alternately, if you are heading Toronto way, Budd's in Oakville could get you new screws for $$? and there are other Saab specialists such as Beacon or Zoom in Toronto that should have some on hand.


The rear screw on 2006-2009 9-5s doesn't cross over on its specific part number, but I suspect it's a pretty common one as well, since the rear rotors should interchange.

 

[Zeegler]

According to EPC, the front disc screw is the same for the 9-5 and NG9-3. So I would go to a junkyard such as Mike's in Stoney Creek and grab a few. Alternately, if you are heading Toronto way, Budd's in Oakville could get you new screws for $$? and there are other Saab specialists such as Beacon or Zoom in Toronto that should have some on hand.


The rear screw on 2006-2009 9-5s doesn't cross over on its specific part number, but I suspect it's a pretty common one as well, since the rear rotors should interchange.

The rear screws were fine. They are a torx head screws, and they both came out with no problem whatsoever.

I'm not really in any rush to get the bolts for the front. It's just inconvenient that the discs are loose and wobble around when you take of off the wheels.

 

[andybisnut]

I have a 2006 and a brake fluid service made the biggest difference. I think you’ll notice a big improvement with new brake fluid.

 

[Jeremy R.]

I have a 2000 and a 2001 Aero, which both have the larger 308mm front brakes, but the smaller rears. The brakes in the 2000 are great. They're firm, and stop the car well. The 2001's are quite a bit spongier, and my wife doesn't always have a lot of confidence in them. I replaced one of the front calipers, which made a good amount of difference in the pedal travel, and one of these days I'll replace the other one. I've replaced the pads, rotors, and bled the entire system twice in the 2001. The only thing I can think of it that other calipers are letting in a little air.

 

[Zeegler]

So I finally got the time to replace the fluid. There was definitely some air in the lines, as I saw the bubbles coming out during bleeding. The brakes feel noticeably better now and have significantly more positive stopping power, however I think the pedal still has more travel than I would like.

Has anyone swapped the lines for SS braided, and if so, has it made a huge difference in the brakes?

 

[EdT]

Was it just a brake bleed, or a full brake fluid flush? If not a thorough flush, there may still be air in the system.

You also want to make sure that the calipers are all lubricated and working correctly, and pads are seated properly. If any of them are sticking a bit, that would increase your brake pedal travel.

I think stainless steel won't do a thing. I did replace the rear hoses after swapping calipers for the Aero ones, but those were generic rubber hoses. After a fluid flush last month, the brakes are really firm with no mushiness.